Ion Source Related Research Work at Jyfl*

In this article the work of the JYFL ion source group will be presented. New bremsstrahlung measurements were carried out in order to compare the results with different electron heating models. Especially attention was paid to study the effect of different heating parameters on the evolution of bremsstrahlung energy. A project to obtain new information about the ion temperatures and their time evolution has been initiated. The study will be performed using spectroscopic techniques measuring the ion temperature from the Doppler broadening of emission lines. The objective is to obtain accurate information about the evolution and the behaviour of highly charged ions in the ECRIS plasma. The work of the JYFL ion source team also includes frequency tuning experiments, beam quality experiments and tests with a so-called collar structure mounted on the plasma electrode. The beneficial effect of collar was first tested and noticed with the ECR ion sources by the KVI ion source group and has been shortly confirmed at JYFL. The JYFL ion source group is also developing a low power electron gun for the needs of spacecraft applications. The results of the development work can possibly be applied also with the ion sources in order to increase the density of cold electrons.